Plan for new homes on green belt near Chester rejected

PLANS to build 15 affordable homes on green belt land at a village near Chester have been refused.

Equity Housing Group Ltd had applied to build six two-bedroom and nine three-bedroom houses at Ashton Lane, Ashton Hayes.

The company had amended its proposals after they were refused by Cheshire West and Chester Council’s (CWaC) planning committee two years ago.

The new plans were earmarked for approval, but the committee went against the planning department’s recommendation during a meeting on Tuesday afternoon.

Ashton Hayes Parish Council had raised concerns about road safety and a lack of consultation about the scheme with villagers.

The council also stated: “It has been established that the need of our own area does not support 15 new houses – it would need to be no more than eight houses to provide for Ashton and delivered over several years, not one large development.”

In a report backing the application, a council officer had written: “It is considered that the layout and design of the development is in keeping with the style and character of the settlement and the surrounding area. The development is considered to provide a group of low cost housing within the green belt and on the edge of a rural settlement as a rural exceptions site.

“The proposed development would not result in an unacceptable detrimental impact on the amenities of neighbouring properties.

“The proposal, subject to conditions, is considered to not result in an unacceptable impact on the highway and would not adversely affect features of identified nature conservation value.”